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Weighted
Strings
Inspired
by Pythagorus and Alvin Lucier, Neil developed instruments that
derived their tension from that enigmatic force, gravity. The Bowling
Ball Instruments act primarily as pendulums. The pendulum can swing
against a moveable bridge as to become an asymmetrical pendulum.
These instruments act as slow mechanical rhythm machines and are
most effective in plural. The poly-phase relationships among three
Bowling Ball Instruments is hypnotic and inscrutable.
diagram
The Anaplumb
The Anaplumb is a Bowling Ball Instrument with a complicated weight
or "bob." This Anaplumb bob consists of a spring, three heavy vibrators
at different speeds, and a large magnet. This bob hovers ove another
heavy magnet, creating a repellant and anti-gravitational force.
The three vibrators vie for resonance with the string and the spring.
The frequencies of the string and spring are determined by weight
which is fluxed by the magnetic field. This is a finely balanced
chaotic system.
diagram
Anaplumb
sound clip
INSTRUMENTS
Bowling Ball Instrument
(NF with John Sheehan) 1987
Anaplumb (Phase 1)
1999
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